The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-01-05
TIE EXfRESS ROBBERS.
They Plead Guilty to the Charge of Larceny
and Are Sentenced to the Penitentiary.

ST. LOUIS, JAN 4-The probability that Fred
Wittrock, the Adams express robber, and his
confederates would be brought into the Criminal
Court to day drew large number of people to
the court room, anxious to catch glimpse of the
famous highwaymen At ii o'clock the grand
jury, which was at that hour expected to be
ready to present their indictments. announced
that they were not ready to report and adjourn
mont was taken to give them further time to
consider the cases. two subsequent adjourn
msnts were taken, the last until 2 p. NJ. for the
same purpose. AT the latter hour, when Judee
Normile took his seat, the courtroom was
crowded. the spectators filling the aisles and
doorways. The grand jury filed in and took
their seats
.'Gentlemen, have you anything to report"
asked the court.
1--WE have three true bills to return" respond
ed the foreman. The bills were handed to the
Judge, who, after looking them over, dismissed
the Jury. One of these was the joint indictment
against Frederick Wttrock, Thomas Weaver
and William w. Haight. charging them with
larceny from a railroad car Indictments charg-
ing them with robbery in the first degree were
prepared Yesterday, but the form was changed
to tho above, SO that there might be no difficulty
in holding messenger Fotheringham. for an in
dictment of robbery in the first degree would be
an admission of his innocence.
At 2:l5 o'clock the prisoners were brought
from their cells in the hold-over into court, and
arraigned at the bar.
IF the court please" said Mr. Glover. States
attorney. "tbe defendants in this case desire to
plead guilty to the charges in the indictment"
The clerk then asked the defendants If they
had heard the charges. They replied In the af-
frmative, and to the question as 10 whether thew
were guilty or not guilty, answered Guilty.
The States attorney recommended that the ex
treme penalty-seven years in the penitentiary
--be meted out to Wittrock and Haight. and that
Weaver be given five years. The Judge then
SpntAuced them accordance with the
mendation.
wittrock and Haight took their sentences
stoically, the former remarkIpg "We have made
our beds and must lie in them," but Weaver was
evidently affected. He cannot reconcile himself
to the idea of serving sentence, when Kin
ney, Moriarity and others who received parts of
the stolen money are allowed to go at liberty.
After receiving their sentences the prisoners
were led back TO their cells, where they will re
main until to morrow, when they will be taken
to the penitentiary at Jefferson City
After Wittrock. Weaver and Haight were sem
fenced to-day, and just as the jail-door closed
behind the robbers, tall slender young man,
in q blue shirt, was standing against the screen
talking TO two ladies in the cage. There il
Fotherngham," said Haght to Wittrock. a
they halted near the guards desk. WittrocR
looked intently at the young man in the blu,
shirt, and said, II believe IL is'
'Yes, it's him." asserted Haght.
By this time the irons had been removed from
Vittrocks wrists, and, walking hastily to th
young man in the blue shirt, he extended hi
hand and said: .'Fotherngha old boy, an
glad to see you. l did you wrong about tw
months ago. but hope you don't bear me an.
bard feelings"
None at allr said Forthe-ineham, "althouel
you took advantage Of me when we last met"
Again shakinghands. Fotheringham continues
lis conversation with the ladie- Shortly afte,
yards the pair shook hands and had long cor
tersatson regarding the events that had trans
nred since they last met